Fiddle Dee Dee

I have become increasingly fascinated by ferns and more and more seem to be finding their way into my garden. I have many evergreen and wintergreen varieties but also many deciduous varieties and it is the emerging fronds at this time of year which I find quite magical.

The emerging fronds are called croziers or fiddleheads and I understand that in the States some varieties are eaten at this time of year.

Osmunda regalis (Royal Fern)

However, when taking photographs of the croziers today I noticed that one of my ferns, Polystichum, has backwards or maybe upside down croziers. If you look at the top photo you will see that the curl is completely the opposite way round to the others.

Onoclea sensibilis copper form

Noticing this peculiarity lead me to search out all the ferns with emerging fronds to see if there were any others and there aren’t in my small collection.

Does anyone know if there are many varieties which unfurl backwards? I can’t find anything in my reference book.

In New Zealand we call an unfurling frond a koru – and we have one on the tail of Air New Zealand planes. Many greenstone (jade-Nephrite) carvings are in the shape of a koru. The Kiwi, silver fern and koru are symbolic for us in art, signage, and just being a New Zealander

I have read too that fiddleheads can be eaten, but they need very careful cooking, I am not sure that I would try. I love the wonderful shapes as they unfurl. I can’t help with the backwards unfurling, I haven’t come across this, but will look more closely.

Interesting question about the ferns unfolding but I think that they are just following a light source. Ferns have a gene which is light sensitive enabling them to live in shady areas and naturally they will grow towards a stronger light. The ones that you have pictured are more unfurled than the others and growing in the same direction so I think this explanation is entirely possible.

I was just at a plant sale where they were selling an “upside down fern” that had the frondlets curving down from the center spine of the frond. No fiddleheads visible, however, and an internet search suggests not likely to be your left-handed fiddlehead. Perhaps it’s just further along in the unfurling process?

I grow a lot of ferns and they will begin unfurling any moment. so now I will have to look more closely at them. My two favorites are Maidenhair (Adiantum pedaturm) and Fishbone fern (Dryopteris felix mas ‘Llinearis polydactyla’). I’ve been growing both for almost 20 years as they are hardy in my cold climate. Just discovered your blog via RDuck and am enchanted. I have also managed to get a clump of double bloodroot to grow so I loved seeing it in the exhibit.

Please feel free to leave comments as its always lovely to get feedback. I try to respond to comments as much as possible but sometimes life and work get in the way but I will do my best to respond especially if your comment is a question. Cancel reply

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About Me

Hi, welcome to blog.
I have been blogging mainly about my garden since 2008 but my proper job is in higher education administration.
I have been very lucky since I started to blog to meet lots of interesting people, learn loads about plants, and visited lots of amazing gardens. These days my posts aren't as regular as they used to be because of work commitments but whenever I come across something interesting or beautiful that I think readers might enjoy I shall try to share it with you